Abound 800 journalists, editors, and news media executives from 70 countries, and six continents will meet in Zaragoza for the World News Media Congress from 28 to 30 September, organized by Wan-Ifra in cooperation with the publishing group Henneo and Zaragoza Tourismo.
The King and Queen of Spain are honorary presidents of the Congress. With media executives and editors expected to attend and nearly 100 speakers, the Congress is set for an exceptional event for its return to the face-to-face format.
Spread over three days, the program includes three main conventions and various for such as the World Media Leaders Summit, the World Editors Summit, and the Women in News Summit.
There will be a strong emphasis on finding formulas to safeguard the future of independent news publishing. Publishers will share successful reader revenue strategies incorporating strong product thinking focus and innovative advertising solutions.
Congress-goers will also address worrying challenges to press freedom around the world and get behind initiatives to promote greater diversity and inclusion within news organizations and in their journalism.
“We have invited close to 100 speakers from leading news organizations to discuss their strategies and solutions to get their media businesses onto a sustainable footing. This is vital as we gather at a time of increased socio-political division and economic strain,” said Vincent Peyrègne, CEO of the World Association of News Publishers (Wan-Ifra). “The unprecedented challenges we face, for many the gravest since the Second World War, call for solidarity. Support for press freedom is needed to ensure independent journalism and news media can continue playing their role,” Peyrègne said.
For Wan-Ifra president Fernando de Yarza López-Madrazo, hosting the Congress in his home city of Zaragoza is significant. “Ever since I was elected to lead Wan-Ifra in 2019, I have wanted to share Aragon with the global media community and show the vitality of independent local media. But the pandemic disrupted our plan,” said de Yarza. “This year, we are finally set for an exceptional event, and a great attendance under the presidency of a great defender of a free, independent, diverse, and plural media ecosystem worldwide, the King of Spain, HM Felipe VI,” Fernando de Yarza said.
